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18/02/2015

Is there something wrong with me because I enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey?

It's received some stick from film critics across the world since it was released last week, but I am one of those who was not left disappointed by the world-wide phenomenon that is Fifty Shades of Grey.

Me and my other half went to see it on Valentine's Day - I was excited, he was sceptical and reluctant. But as the film ended as sharply as the book, he turned to me and said: "I really enjoyed that! It can't end like that, what happens next?" I get the feeling he won't be quite as reluctant to see Fifty Shades Darker when that is released.

Loads of people have been negative about the film and I was quite apprehensive about seeing it - I'd read the books and already had in my mind ideas of what each character would be like and how things would go. Of course the film wasn't a mirror of the book, there's no way that much could be squeezed into 120 minutes. I went into it with an open mind which is probably why I wasn't left disappointed.

Some critics have been quite cruel in their reviews, not only slamming the film but also the people who enjoyed it. One reviewer said in her review: "I fear that what you think of Fifty Shades of Grey may say more about you than it says about the movie itself." Unless all film critics are now turning into Katie Hopkins-esque characters and taking personal swipes at everyone who possesses an opinion different to theirs, I feel this is a little uncalled for.

It's a bit of an unkind dig towards those who enjoyed the film, possibly making them question what their overall opinion of the film must mean about them. But who cares? Just because you like something that others don't, doesn't say anything about you as a person.

I can see why Fifty Shades wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but the world would be a very boring place if everyone liked the same things. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I don't want to spoil it for those who are yet to see it, so here are a few of the things I liked best about Fifty Shades of Grey:

1. The soundtrack.This has very little to do with the story or the acting, but the soundtrack was definitely one of my favourite parts. As soon as we came out of the cinema I'd downloaded it and I'm listening to it as I type (Current song: Haunted - Beyonce).
2. Jamie Dornan.I wasn't sure at first whether he would be the right Christian Grey for me. After reading the books a few times, I'd already built up an image of him in my head and he didn't quite fit that. But, after 10 minutes of him being on the screen I was sold. He played the part brilliantly and wasn't too bad on the eye either! There have been criticisms that the chemistry between him and Dakota Johnson on screen wasn't great, but that's the character of Christian Grey. If they had loads of chemistry, I don't think the character from the book would have come across as strong.
3. The tasteful nature of the sex scenes.The book is raunchy, far raunchier than the film was and probably ever could be. Those who said that there wasn't enough sex in it would probably be the same people who would say there was too much, had they included more. For me, there was just the right balance. Any more and you wouldn't have got any of the story, which is important, and it would've just been like a porn film. The sex scenes that they did include were tastefully shot and acted as well. Of course, you can only be so tasteful with BDSM but I thought it was done really well.
4. How easy it is to get parked in Seattle.I've been in a similar situation to Anastasia Steele when she drove up to Christian Grey's offices to interview him and believe me, it is never ever that easy to find a parking space. Bear in mind that I only visit people in offices in a small, northern town - not a huge, international city - and I can barely get parked outside a local primary school!
5. Ana's 'inner goddess' is nowhere to be seen or heard.I'm all for a bit of narration in a book but her 'inner goddess' wasn't half annoying and ever so slightly cringey. Her character was much more grown up and respectable without it.
6. Some of the awkward moments/lines in the books were left out.Whilst I really enjoyed reading the books, and thought the overall story was great, the way they were written didn't blow me away. Of course there are only so many words for a penis or a vagina, but I did cringe as I read some of the ways E.L James had written some moments. It pleased me that much of this was left out. "I'm fifty shades of fucked up" still made its way in, though!
7. The glider scene.Her happy face and his little romantic side just made me feel all warm inside.

8. The camera angles which were obviously chosen to show Ana's perfectly pruned pubic area.It was a very full bush and has definitely pushed the 'should it go or let it grow' debate into the forefront of people's minds once more.

9. When Christian bit the toast.Eating toast has never seemed so sexy.
10. Her naivety when it comes to all things sexual.There were some definite 'laugh out loud' moments in the film. For example, questioning whether his 'xbox and stuff' were kept in his playroom and her facial expressions when he explains things to her.
11. The scene where they negotiate the contracts.This was also my other half's favourite bit (or so he told me...) - the way it was filmed, the dialogue and the acting was probably the best bit. It was also the first moment we saw 'sassy Ana'.
12. The game of 'Spot Rita Ora'.Blink and you'll miss her, literally. So much so that Tom didn't even realise that she had been in it! Her character did have a much bigger part in the book, but she featured more heavily in the second and third books. Something that I think Rita Ora has explained in interviews questioning her minuscule role.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. I can see why people have slated it because, given its popularity as a book, everyone will have expected something different from it - that's the problem when you turn such a popular book into a film. And when the author of said popular book insists on being so hands-on in the making of the film.

Some reviews, I feel, have been quite harsh. Not only on the cast and those behind the film, but on those who have been to watch it and have expressed their enjoyment. Whenever a big, blockbuster film comes out there are always going to be those people who have the sole intention of criticising it, no matter how good it is.

With Fifty Shades of Grey, I feel that many people are criticising it because they're trying to be unique and cool and not jump on the bandwagon. They're the same sort of people who will immediately disliking a band because 'they liked them before they became famous and now everyone else likes them too.'

Personally, I think the trilogy makes for a really good love story which happens to include all the sexy bits that would usually be left out. It probably could have been transferred from page to screen a little bit better, but the first book always was the weakest in my opinion.

I'm looking forward to seeing how they tell the story from the second and third books on the big screen and can't wait for another couple of hours filled with mostly topless shots of Jamie Dornan.

1 comment:

I liked it! I didn't love it but I didn't love the book. The character of Ana annoyed me slightly less in the film than she did in the book and although Jamie Dornan would not have been my first choice, he was incredibly hot!!